Caribbean Mission

About the Book

Currently displaced by the use of telephones and e-mail, the written records of a family viewed through regular correspondence may soon be a rarity. These letters, however, written by William George Arbaugh, are an appealing mix of family concerns with the author's work in leading the Lutheran mission in the Caribbean.

His letters are vividly descriptive, with occasional glowing details of dinners, which he thoroughly enjoyed, and at other times with serious concerns about which he was analytically thorough. Some exciting letters describe early travels in South America, such as the time his little airliner struggled to get over the Andes but, unable to climb high enough or dodge clouds in a canyon, had to turn back. Another bit of excitement was an emergency landing in Bolivia and his surprising discovery that the runway was lined by workmen with hand-held fire extinguishers!

These letters are not simply a record of a family with opportunities unusual for the age; they are also a record of churchmanship, faith and vision. At heart the author was always a Lutheran parish pastor, but he had the added responsibilities of care for the West Indies Mission. He provided both the vision and the leadership for the congregations of this anomalous mission field to become the bilingual Caribbean Synod.

The letters also include a sampling which describe his activities when serving on the Board of American Missions (ULCA), examples of editorial and business memoranda for the Spanish Hymnal Committee, reviews on the status of Spanish Lutheran publications, and activity with the Lutheran World Federation - Latin America. Over a span of thirty years (1928-1958) these letters are the story of William George Arbaugh's Caribbean Mission.

About the Author